Milena Smith

Milena Smith is the Founder, President, and Treasurer of Wolverine Wonders Homeschool Co-Op. Her work combines a strong academic background, professional expertise, and a deeply personal dedication to homeschooling families.

 

Born and raised in Brazil, Milena earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science from the State University of Santa Cruz in 2013. During her time there, she developed "Histopathological Changes in Liver and Brain of Consumers of Illegal Drugs", a groundbreaking research project approved by the university’s ethics committee, the first of its kind to use human tissue instead of animal models. This academic accomplishment, completed during her undergraduate studies, opened new paths for future students. After moving to the United States in 2014, her degree was accredited by a private United States Institution in 2016.

 

Milena’s connection with the English language began early in life. As a child, she attended regular school in the mornings and English school in the afternoons, becoming fluent by age 13. By 15, she was tutoring younger students, and during her college years, she taught English privately to executives, families, and professionals. Specializing in travel-focused English lessons, Milena’s early teaching career supported her financially through college while strengthening her passion for education. Fluent in both English and Portuguese, she can also understand and navigate Spanish, Italian, and French due to their shared Latin roots with Portuguese.

 

Professionally, Milena gained invaluable experience in banking. At Four Corners Community Bank, she worked as a Commercial Loan Assistant and later as a Compliance and BSA Specialist. These roles sharpened her skills in financial management, regulatory compliance, and client services, providing a solid foundation for the operational and financial oversight she now brings to Wolverine Wonders.

 

Milena founded Wolverine Wonders in 2024 to fill a gap in the homeschooling community by creating consistent, structured group learning opportunities free of ideological influences. Drawing from her personal experience as a homeschooling parent, she designed and implemented all of the co-op’s programs, emphasizing intentional social interaction and collaborative learning. Her leadership ensures Wolverine Wonders provides families with year-round, high-quality opportunities that align with the local school district calendar.

 

Guided by the belief shared by Aristotle that “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit,” Milena strives to instill a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and consistency in the programs she leads. While her academic and professional accomplishments are significant, her greatest pride comes from her role as a mother and the inspiration her children bring to her work every day.